For now, Travis Henry's questionable status with the Broncos can be measured in weeks.

With Henry's future stuck in an unusual legal entanglement, it is not known how long the troubled star running back will play for the Broncos. It will probably be weeks before his fight against the NFL over his urine samples is settled. But for now, all that is clear is that Henry will be available to play today for the 2-2 Broncos against the San Diego Chargers at Invesco Field at Mile High.

Henry - who practiced Friday for the first time last week because of knee and ankle injuries - proclaimed that he will play today. Coach Mike Shanahan said if Henry doesn't have an injury setback, the NFL's leading rusher will be in the starting backfield.

His time could be running out. It appears the legal skirmish between Henry and the league will take several weeks, but probably less than a month. If Henry is suspended for at least one year, he can appeal that decision, and play through that process, which usually takes a couple of weeks.

The dispute is over Henry's samples, which were positive for marijuana. Because he is in stage two of the league's substance abuse policy - he has already served a four-game suspension for marijuana use - another failed test would result in a year's suspension.

When the NFL suspends players for a year, it makes it an indefinite suspension, with the player having the opportunity to apply for reinstatement after a year. The player must go to counseling and is tested regularly while on suspension. If a player tests positive a fourth time, he receives a lifetime ban from the NFL.

Each specimen is broken into two samples, an "A" and a "B" sample. Henry's lawsuit is based on the NFL not allowing one of his experts to test the "B" sample. However, there were indications Friday that the first sample might be reviewed as well.

In his complaint, Henry was adamant his sample was not positive.

While Henry's case may be a longshot, there might be some viable arguments that could be made by his attorneys to get the test reversed, some close to the situation believe. The case is in Brooklyn federal court and there is expected to be a hearing on the matter this week.

Neither Henry nor Shanahan would discuss the legal matter. Shanahan said he was "disappointed" with the situation but couldn't discuss it at length because "it's touchy."

Shanahan did say he is well-versed in the situation and would talk at length about the matter once it is settled. He said he spoke with Henry for almost an hour Thursday night. Shanahan said neither he nor anyone in the organization knew about the case until Thursday.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league will not have any comment on Henry until a decision has been made, but Aiello did say he did not expect an announcement before the game against the Chargers. NFL attorney Sean O'Donnell declined to discuss the case.

Steve Zissou, one of Henry's lawyers, said he couldn't provide a copy of Henry's court filing in the state court system in New York. Henry's other lawyers didn't return calls.

Dave Smith, an attorney at Denver's Mountain States Employers Council Inc., a management advocacy group that helps companies in contract negotiations, said the resolution of the Henry matter depends on the terms of the contract between the NFL and its players union.

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"It really deals more with the collective bargaining process," he said. "It depends upon the parties involved and the issues."

In Colorado, private employers can terminate workers for illegal activity even if it doesn't occur during work time. For example, if an employee breaks laws regarding drug possession or drunk driving, the employer can fire them. And private employers have the right to conduct random drug checks, even if such a policy isn't written down in advance of the worker's hiring.

The Broncos gave Henry a five-year deal with $12 million in guarantees. The Broncos may attempt to retrieve most of that $12 million but, according to the league's collective bargaining agreement, all signing bonus and option bonus money that can be retrieved is a prorated portion. Because the $12 million is split equally between the signing bonus and future option bonus money, the $6 million owed in signing bonus is where the proration could come from. The option money likely would not be paid.

Shanahan said Henry was dealing with the situation "like a man." Some teammates said they are behind Henry.

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